Explore Tennessee Parks

Explore Tennessee Parks

August 21st, 2012by Todd South in Glimpse 2012-a

Moss cover steps lead visitors to the Spring Castle in Rock Island State Park

Moss cover steps lead visitors to the Spring...

A variety of outdoor splendors await those in need of an open-air fix at state parks a short drive from the Scenic City. The following parks are just a sample of what there is to do close to Chattanooga but a world away in fun.

Fall Creek Falls State Park

• An hour from Chattanooga in Pikeville, this 20,000-acre destination holds gorges, waterfalls, streams and stands of hardwood timber.

• "Southern Living" magazine readers ranked this area the best park in Tennessee.

• Among the 228 campsites, there are a variety of accommodations ranging from group camp sites with room for 100, lodges, cabins and the 145-guest room Park Inn.

• Picnic areas dot the site and 34 miles of trails beckon, as do fish in the 345-acre Fall Creek Falls Lake.

• The second weekend in April marks the Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage and Labor Day begins the Mountaineer Folk Festival.

Source: Tennessee State Parks website

Harrison Bay State Park

• A water-lover's oasis holds a 1,200-acre park with 40 miles of the Chickamauga Lake shoreline at this recreation area in Harrison built by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1930s.

• A public ramp serves boaters ready to hit the water. The marina holds 161 covered slips, 28 uncovered and can handle watercraft up to 60 feet, including sailboats.

• Most anglers fish the park's waterways in the spring, while boaters and water-ski enthusiasts hit the lake through summer and fall.

Source: Tennessee State Parks website

Cumberland Mountain State Park

• Atop the Cumberland Plateau, this state park near Crossville is one portion of a geographical formation stretching from New York to Alabama.

• The 1,720-acre park was formed as a recreation area for residents in 1938. The nearby Homestead Museum showcases a 1930s-era homestead community.

• Paddleboats, canoes, rowboats and trolling-motor fishing boats are available for rent. The boat dock is open May through October. Boaters can bring their own kayaks and canoes for paddling on Byrd Lake.

• Cabins with fireplaces are available to park-goers from Oct. 1 to April 30.

• The cabins and lodges range from two-person structures to 10-person accommodations.

• Tent and RV campsites with hookups, picnic tables, grills and bathhouses are ready for campers.